Author
Topic: dyson ball drive system? (Read 1109 times)

I wanted to make a very small robot using a single ball and three rollers on top for movement with a trailing wheel (ballpoint style) for balance. I don't want to do anything as complicated as the CMU ballbot, balance isn't my goal here (though how sweet was that?) but was wondering if someone here could point me at a similar design?

I tried this once in the past and failed, but I was also doing it wrong, methinks.

My suspicion is that if you're doing it yourself, you'll need to do quite a bit of experimenting.

One thing for sure is that the more weight of the robot is on the ball, the hard it is to spin that ball, so weight probably needs to be supported by other parts, for example 3 or 4 rotating casters positioned around the central dyson ball.

Ultimately, I'm under the impression that it's a very inefficient method of locomotion.

In CMU's case, the small footprint of the robot is probably the main benefit. The thing that helps them accomplish it, too, is probably high tolerances, and strong motors.

Perfectly coherent from this angle. Rather than try to move the ball like it's an inverse track ball mouse, I'm contemplating having an axle run through it and mount the axle and ball inside of a circle that rotates to change direction. Might not be the most efficient way to propel the bot, but it'd have 360 degree turning capability without moving an inch and that counts for something too right? Plus its what is in my head and what I want to try down the road. I'm still acquiring parts for the $50 bot and doing it without any attempts to alter the design as I learn.